Palestinians seek int'l support of prisoners in Israeli jails
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The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Tuesday staged an international conference to get international recognition that Palestinian inmates in Israeli jails are prisoners of war.
"The conference aims at gathering international support to endorse the prisoners' rights and their position as prisoners of war," said Prime Minister Salam Fayyad at the opening session of the conference in the West Bank city of Jericho.
Israel holds about 11,000 Palestinians and deals with them as terrorists.
Fayyad called on Israel to release the prisoners immediately, stressing that there will be no peace agreement without solving the issue.
Fayyad said the prisoners of war must be freed, urging human rights groups to oblige Israel to commit itself with the international laws especially on prisoners' rights.
About 40 lawyers, rights activists and international envoys participated in the conference.
Meanwhile, Fayyad has also called for ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories to enable the creation of a Palestinian statehood in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
"This is the key for peace, security and stability in the region, Fayyad added.
